THE Britannia Royal Naval College Volunteer Band has hit the right note... again.

It has retained its title as the best overall band at the annual Royal Naval Volunteer Band Festival in Portsmouth.

The 35-strong Dartmouth band competed against other top marching bands in front of the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral David Steel, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, judges from the Royal Marines Band Service and an appreciative audience.

Since its formation in 2009, BRNC's band has won a fistful of prizes. This year, under the baton of Bandmaster Graham Holman, it retained the Commander-in-Chief Challenge Trophy for the Best All-Round Band as well as winning trophies for second best concert band and best drum major – in the shape of Hannah Balcombe, who only volunteered to take on role 15 months ago.

Cdr Jason Phillips, the BRNC band's officer, said: 'The volunteer band is a great advert for BRNC, with every performance drawing praise and I look forward to them raising the bar further to perhaps achieve a hat-trick next year.'

The nine bands that form the Royal Naval Volunteer Band Association came together from all over the UK to compete for prizes in various categories.

The marking is based on performances as a marching band, a concert band and bands are also judged on their military bearing.

The BRNC Volunteer Band is recruiting and is particularly keen to attract musicians for the Corps of Drums and is also looking for a bassoonist. Anyone interested in an audition can contact Graham Holman via email at [email protected]">[email protected].